Can package



Nov. 26, 1957 o. w. STONE 2,814,385

- CAN PACKAGE Original Filed Jan. 22, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l :25 E III: 2 20 29 I i i 5 32 g h Pig 5.

INVENTOR" 0. W. STONE Nov. 26, 1957 CAN PACKAGE :5 Shets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jax 22, 1951 INVENTOR 0. W. STONE Nov. 26, 1957 CAN PACKAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan. 22. 1951 INVENTOR m fi 2,814,385 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 CAN PACKAGE Orison W. Stone, Valley Cottage, N. Y., assignor to Contignerlital Can Company, Inc., a corporation of New Continuation of abandoned application Serial No. 207,103, January 22, 1951. This application May 31, 1956, Serial No. 588,562

7 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) This invention relates to containers and more particularly to a container for the shipping and handling of containers having one or more recessed ends such as cans containing foodstuffs and the like.

This application is a continuation of patent application Serial Number 207,103, filed January 22, 1951, now abandoned.

An outstanding object of this invention is the provision of a device which will hold a small number of such cans as a unit for ease in handling.

A further object of the instant invention is to furnish an attractive holder for the retail sale of canned goods.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a sheet-material container for a small group of canned goods, which container can be folded flat while not in use and yet can be quickly expanded to operative position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a container for cans and the like that is made up from a single blank of sheet material and which can be made an assembled on automatic machinery.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of containers which will hold several cans in grouped relationship firmly and compactly and which is particularly useful in retail sales of canned goods, such as beer, oil, soup, and scouring powder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a container for flanged or recessed cans which makes use of the flange or recess of the can to hold it securely in place in the container.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to certain of its structural forms as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the container of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the container of the invention is formed.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modification of the container of the invention taken along the line 33 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the modification of Figure 3 taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the modification of Figure 3 is formed.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a further modification of the container of the invention taken on the line 66 of Figure 7 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of the modification of Figure 6 taken on the line 77 of Figure 6 and looking in the direction of the arrows Figure 8 is a plan view of the blank from which the modification of Figure 6 is formed.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

As conducive to a better understanding of the invention, a recital of the prior art devices and the problems in the art is appropriate. It is the practice in the retail sale of canned goods to either sell a large quantity in a cardboard box or to sell small quantities in a loose I fashion, placing the cans in a bag along with the customers other purchases. In the sale of canned beer, for instance, the customer may purchase a carton containing, say, a dozen cans; however, if he wishes to make a small purchase, say three, the cans are usually placed in a bag. The placing of cans in a paper bag is particularly objectionable if they have been refrigerated and water has condensed on the surface of the cans; the usual thin paper bag becomes wet, breaks, and the cans fall out. The possibility of using a cardboard carrier of the type used in the sale of bottled soft drinks suggests itself, but the cost of such a carrier is often prohibitive in the sale of canned goods where the allowable margin of cost of distribution is very low. The present invention is intended to solve the problem thus presented.

One species of the container of the instant invention is shown in assembled condition in Figure 1. However, the invention will be more easily understood by starting with a description of the blank from which the container is formed.

Referring to Figure 2, which best shows the blank, the reference character 10 is used generally to designate the container. The container 10 is made up from a single sheet of material of elongated rectangular shape. The sheet is divided into five sections by fold lines 16', 17, 18 and 19 running parallel with the ends of the rectangle. The fold line 16 and the end 31 define a glue tab 11. The score line 16 and the score line 17' define a bottom panel 12. The score line 17 and the score line 18 define a first side panel 13. The score line 18 and the score line 19 define a top panel 14. The score line 19 and the end 32 define a second side panel 15. The bottom panel 12 and the top panel 14 are approximately as wide, from score line to score line, as the diameter of the can with which the container is to be used. The first side panel 13 and the second side panel 15 are approximately as wide, from score line to score line or from score line to end, as the can is high. The length of all the panels or, rather, the width of the blank is considerably less than three times the diameter of a can and a little larger than twice the can diameter. Formed on the bottom panel 12 are two lock tabs 20 and 21 which are formed by the use of cuts and fold lines, as will be further explained; these tabs are attached adjacent the ends of the panel and extend inwardly to Ward each other. The top panel 14 is also provided with similar lock tabs 22 and 23. Lock tab 20 is similar to the others and will be described in detial. The tab 20 is defined by two side cuts 25 and 26 near the end of the bottom panel 12 and parallel to the score lines 16 and 17'. The inner ends of the side cuts 25 and 26 are joined by an arcuate cut 24 whose center of curvature is adjacent to the end of the panel and whose radius of curvature is approximately that of a can. The other, outer ends of the side cuts are joined by a score line 28 which is parallel to the side of the blank. The area defined by the side cuts 25 and 26, the arcuate cut 24, and the score line 28 is traversed by a score line 27 which is parallel to score line 28 and which divides the area so defined into a major, free portion 29 adjacent to the arcuate cut 24 and a connecting portion 30 adjacent to the score line 28. All the lock tabs 20, 21, 22 and 23 are made in this manner.

The assembly of the container is best understood by reference to Figure 1 which shows the condition of the container with the lock tabs folded out of their respective panels. The collapsed enclosure is formed by the manufacturer of the container and has panel 12 as its bottom, panel 14 as its top, and panels 13 and 15 as its sides. The glue tab 11 will lie against the inside of the second side panel 15 adjacent to the end 32 of the blank and is glued or otherwise fastened thereagainst. Until the collapsed container is received by the person who is to insert the cans, presumably the canner, the lock tabs remain in the planes of their respective panels. Before the cans are inserted, the container is expanded and the lock tabs are pushed out of their respective panels and bent about their score lines so that the portions which correspond to the major, free portion 29 of tab are in a position more or less parallelto the panels from which they are formed and those portions which correspond to the connecting portion of tab 20 are bent back toward the panel and lie thereagainst.

In use, the container is in the condition shown in Figure 1 before the cans are inserted, with the exception that the tabs remain in the plane of the hand. Now, the most cans are made up of an elongated cylindrical tube, the ends of which are closed by circular end pieces made of the same material as the tube; the joint between the tube and the end pieces forms a flange that extends axially end-wise for an appreciable distance and forms a recess at the end of each can. A number of cans, three in the case of the preferred embodiment, are placed in the container. The middle can extends between the top and bottom panels 14 and 12 and is situated in the space between the sets of lock tabs. The outer two cans also extend between the top and bottom panels, but they are situated partly within the container and partly without. The lock tabs 20 and 22 are extended into the opposite recesses of one of these cans, while lock tabs 21 and 23 are extended into the end recesses of the other of these cans. The resilience of the material from which the container is formed causes the lock tabs to be resiliently biased inwardly of the container. This means that when a locking tab, say tab 20, is inserted into the end recess of a can, the major free portion 29 will be against the end of the can at the bottom of the recess and the edge formed by the arcuate cut 24 will press firmly against the inside of the flange of the can and will tend to bias the can into the container. The size of the connecting portion 30 must be chosen for optimum performance with a given type of can. It can be seen that any tendency for the end cans to leave the container will be checked by the lock tabs and, of course, the middle can or cans will be held firmly between the outer cans. The container of the invention may be placed on groups of cansat the place where the cans are filled and packed in cartons for shipment ultimately to the retailer; on the other hand, the containers may be shipped fiat to the retailer, if desired, and the retailer may place the cans in them in the manner now practiced with paper bags.

A modification of the container of the invention is shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. Figures 3 and 4 show the container in assembled, expanded condition with cans held assembled therein. A description of the blank will aid in an understanding of the device and, for that purpose, reference is made to Figure 5. The reference character generally designates the container of the invention. The container 40 is made up from a single sheet of material of elongated rectangular shape. This sheet is divided into five sections by fold lines 46, 47, 48 and 49 running transversely thereof. The fold line 46 and the end 60 define a glue tab 41. The score line 46 and the score line 47 define a bottom panel 42. The score line 47 and the score line 48 define a first side panel 43. The score line 48 and the score line 49 define a top panel 44. The score line 49 and the end 59 define a second side panel 45. The dimensions of the panels are related to the dimensions of the particular can in the same manner as has been described above for the species shown in Figure l. Formed on the bottom panel 42 are two lock tabs 5'0 and 51 which are formed by the use of cuts and fold lines, as will be further explained; these tabs are attached more or less centrally of the panel and extend generally parallel to the sides of the blank. The top panel 44 is also provided with similar lock tabs 52 and 53. Lock tab 53 is similar to the others and will be described in detail. The tab 53 is defined by a semicircular cut 54 and a score line 55 which is situated at the base of the semi-circle. The score line 55 is situated on a line running from side to side of the blank medially of the panel and is further situated a short distance from a line running longitudinally of the blank medially of the panel. However, where tab 53 lies on one side of the line, running from side to side of the blank medially of the panel, the tab 52 lies on the other side and the other pair of tabs 56 and 51 are also related in that manner. The area defined by the semi-circular cut 54 and the score line 55 is traversed by a score line 5-6 which divides the area so defined into a free portion 57 and a connecting portion 58. The score line 56 traverses the tab area in such a way as to make the connecting portion 58 of a generally wedge shape with the small end of the wedge at the portion of the tab area which is closest to the sides of the blank; in other words, the connecting portions of the tabs 52 and 53 are both wedge-shaped and the larger ends of the wedges are adjacent to each other. The details of the relationship between the tabs 50 and 51 are exactly the same as in the case of tabs 52 and 53. The assembly of the blank by the manufacturer involves the gluing of the glue tab 41 to the panel 45 adjacent to the end 59; for that purpose, it is usual to bend the hand 42 about the score line 47 and the panels 44 and 45 about the fold line 49. The container in this condition is fiat and may be easily shipped. The person who places the cans in the container expands the flat container described above into an open condition. After insertion the cans, he bends the tabs about their base score lines and again about their dividing score lines in such a manner that the connecting portion lies flat against the portion of its respective panel which is on the other side of the base score line from the said connecting portion and the free portion is parallel to and spaced from the panel. If a can tends to move outwardly of the container, the flange of the can butts against the downwardly-extending large end of the connecting member. The free portion of the tab, of course, serves to prevent the connecting portion from flipping back to its original position in the panel from which it was pressed. The condition of the container and cans is as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It is to be understood, also, that this type of tab could be used in a container constructed to hold three or more cans instead of two.

Another modification of the container of the invention is shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8. Figures 6 and 7 show the container in assembled, expanded condition with cans held assembled therein. A description of the blank will aid in an understanding of the device and, for that purpose, reference is made to Figure 8. The reference character designates the container of the invention. The container 70 is made up from a single sheet of material of elongated rectangular shape. This sheet is divided into five sections by fold lines 76, 77, 78 and 79 running transversely thereof. The fold line 76 and the end 92 define a glue tab 71. The score line 76 and the score line 77 define a bottom panel 72. The score line 77 and the score line 78 define a first side panel 73. The score line 78 and the score line 79 define a top panel 74. The score line 79 and the end 93 define a second side panel 75. The dimensions of the panels are related to the dimensions of the particular can in the manner that has been described above for the other modifications. Formed on the bottom panel 72 are two lock tabs 80 and 81 which are formed by the use of cuts and fold lines, as will be further explained; these tabs are attached more or less centrally of the panel and extend generally parallel to the sides of the blank. The top panel 74 is also provided with similar lock tabs 82 and 83. Lock tab 83 is similar to the others and will be described in detail. The tab 83 is defined by an end cut 84, running transversely of the blank, a first side cut 87 running longitudinally of the blank, a score line 88 running transversely of the blank, and an irregular cut, the whole being of generally square configuration. The irregular cut is made up of an arcuate cut 85 and an arcuate cut 86 of similar radii of curvature. The centers of curvature of these two arcuate cuts are adjacent to the side of the blank. A fold line 91 runs across the tab, lies transversely of the blank, and passes through the point of intersection of the arcuate cuts 85 and 86. The fold line 91 divides the tab into a free portion 89 and a connecting portion 90. The score line 88 is situated on a line running from side to side of the blank medially of the panel and is further situated a short distance from a line running longitudinally of the blank medially of the panel. However, where tab 83 lies on one side of the first-mentioned medial line, the tab 82 lies on the other side; the other pair of tabs 80 and 81 are so related. The assembly of the blank involves the gluing of the glue tab 71 to the panel 75 adjacent to the end 93; at that time the blank will be bent about the score line 77 and the score line 79 to produce a container which is flat for shipping. On placing the cans in the container, the flat container described above is expanded into open condition. After the cans are inserted, the tabs are bent inwardly of the container about their score lines which correspond to the score line 88 of tab 83 and, in the reverse direction, about the dividing score line corresponding to score line 91 of tab 83. The connecting portions then he in contact with their respective panels and the free portions lie parallel to and spaced from said panels. This means that the free portion of the tab lies against the end of the can and the connecting portion lies between the tree portion and its panel. The arcuate cuts 85 and 86 lie along the inside of the flange of the can and the tab locks the can against removal from the container. The condition of the container and cans at this point is best shown in Figures 6 and 7. Of course, this type of container can be modified slightly to hold three or more cans as well as the two shown.

Although the container is necessarily made of sheet material, this sheet material may be paperboard or the like or even sheet metal, such as aluminum. The particular material will be selected to fit the particular situation in which the container is to be used. The outer surface of the container is, of course, an excellent medium for display and advertising.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such forms as properly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a plurality of cans in unitary, aligned, side-by-side relationship, each of said cans having a longitudinally-extending flange at each end defining a recess, a series of panels arranged to form an open ended enclosure, two of said panels beingin opposed relationship and lying adjacent to the ends of the cans held within the container, a lock tab on one of the aforementioned opposed panels, said tab having a free portion which is generally parallel to but spaced inwardly from the panel to which the tab is attached, the connection of the lock tab to the panel being adjacent the end of the enclosure with the tab extending inwardly thereof, said free portion residing in the recess in the end of the can with its outer end contacting the flange to lock the can in place, said lock tab having a connecting portion of substantial extent hingedly and resiliently connected to said free portion and to the panel to which the tab is connected, the said connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about the panel hinge 180 degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to said panel.

2. A package comprising a plurality of cans in unitary, aligned, side-by-side relationship, each of said cans having an axial flange at each end defining a circular recess, a series of panels arranged to form an open-ended enclosure, two of said panels being in opposed relationship and lying adjacent the ends of the cans held within the container, a lock tab on one of the aforementioned opposed panels'adjacent to an open end of the enclosure, said tab having a free portion which is generally parallel to but spaced inwardly from the panel to which the tab is attached, the connection of the lock tab to the panel being adjacent the end of the enclosure with the tab extending inwardly thereof, said free portion also being of such a shape as to fit into the recess in the end of a can and to conform at least in part to the curvature of the inside of the flange of the can, said lock tab having a substantial connecting portion hingedly and resiliently connected to said major portion and to the panel to which the tab is connected to urge the free portion of the tab inwardly of the container, the said connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about its panel hinge 180 degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to the said panel.

3. A package comprising a group of cans in unitary, alignedrelationship, each of said cans having an axial flange at each end defining a circular recess, a top panel and a bottom panel adapted to lie in juxtaposition to the tops and bottoms respectively of the group of cans, two

side panels adapted to lie on opposite sides of said line of cans and hingedly attached to the top and bottom panels to form an open-ended enclosure therewith, a lock tab on one of the panels adjacent an open end of the enclosure, the connection of the lock tab to the panel being adjacent the end of the enclosure with the tab extending inwardly thereof, said tab having a major portion which is generally parallel to the panel to which the tab is attached of such a shape as to fit into the recess in the end of a can and to conform at least in part to the curvature of the inside of the flange of the can, said lock tab having a substantial connecting portion hingedly and resiliently connected to said major portion of the tab and to the panel to which the tab is connected, said connecting portion lying adjacent to the panel and serving to urge the free portion into the recess of the can, the said connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about its panel hinge degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to the said panel.

4. A package including a series of cans, an openended container within which the cans reside, the container having a top panel, a bottom panel, and two side panels, the top and bottom panels lying in opposed relationship, a lock tab situated at each end of the top and bottom panels, each of said lock tabs being defined by two spaced side cuts running perpendicular to the open ends of the container, an arcuate cut joining the inner ends of said side cuts and having a radius of curvature similar to that of a can and a center of curvature away from the center of the panel, a first score line joining the outer ends of said side cuts, a second score line joining the intermediate portion of said side cuts and dividing the lock tab into a free portion adjacent to the arcuate cut and a substantial connecting portion adjacent to the first score line, said free portion lying gen erally parallel to and spaced from its respective panel within the recess of one of the cans within the container, the connection of the lock tab to the panel being adjacent the end of the container with the tab extending inwardly 7 thereof, the said connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about its panel hinge 180 degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to its respective panel.

5. A package consisting of a container, a plurality of cans held within the container in unitary relationship, each of said cans having an axial flange at each end defining a recess, a top panel and a bottom panel adapted to lie in juxtaposition to the tops and bottoms respectively of the cans, two side panels adapted to lie on opposite sides of said cans and hingedly attached to the bottom and top panels to form an open-ended enclosure therewith, lock tabs on the top and bottom panels being adjacent to the open ends of the enclosure, each of said tabs being generally semicircular and havinga free portion which is generally parallel to and spaced from the panel to whichthe tab is attached and fitting into the recess of a can, each of said lock tabs having a connecting portion hingedly and resiliently connected to said free portion of the tab and to the panel to which the tab is connected, said connecting portion lying adjacent to the panel and serving to urge the free portion into the recess of the can, said connecting portion being generally wedgeshaped so that the side thereof that is connected to the free portion is inclined at an acute angle to the side that is connected to the panel, the pair of lock tabs on a given panel being connected to the panel along a line running from open end to open end of the container medially of the panel, the lock tabs extending in opposite directions from the medial line, the large ends of the wedge-shaped connecting portion of such a pair of tabs being adjacent one another, the connection of each lock tab to the panel being adjacent an end of the container with the tab extending inwardly thereof, each connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about its panel hinge 180 degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to its respective panel.

6. A package comprising a plurality of cans, a container for holding the cans in aligned, unitary relationship, each of said cans having an axial flange at each end defining a recess, a top panel and a bottom panel adapted to lie in juxtaposition to the tops and bottoms respectively of the cans, two side panels adapted to lie on opposite sides of the line of cans and hingedly attached to the bottom and top panels to form an openended enclosure therewith, lock tabs on the top and bottom panels adjacent to the open ends of the enclosure, each of said tabs having a tree portion which is generally parallel to and spaced from the panel to which the tab is attached, each of said lock tabs having a connecting portion hingedly and resiliently connected to said free portion of the tab and to the panel to which the tab is connected, said connecting portion lying adjacent to the panel and serving to urge the tree portion into the recess of the can, the pair of lock tabs on a given panel being connected to the panel along a line running from open end to open end of the container medially of the panel, the lock. tabs extending in opposite directions from said medial line, the adjacent edges of such a pair of tabs being so configurated that the portion of said edges subtended by the free portions are arcuate and those subtended by the connecting portions are also arcuate, the centers of curvature of said arcuate edges being away from the center of the panel, the connection of each lock tab to the panel being adjacent an end of the container with the tab extending inwardly thereof, each connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about its panel hinge 180 degrees from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to its respective panel.

7. A package comprising a plurality of containers, at least one of said containers having a longitudinally-cxtending end flange defining a recess, a series of panels arranged to form an open-ended enclosure, two of said panels being in opposed relationship and lying adjacent to the ends of the containers held within the enclosure, a lock tab on one of the aforementioned opposed panels, said tab having a free portion which is generally parallel to but spaced inwardly from the panel to which the tab is attached, the connection of the lock tab to the panel being adjacent the end of the enclosure with the tab extending inwardly thereof, said free portion residing in the recess in the end of a container, said flange being adjacent to said latter panel with the outer end of the said free portion contacting the flange to lock the container in place, said lock t-ab having a connecting portion hingedly and resiliently connected to said free portion and to the panel to which the tab is connected, said connecting portion between the free portion and said latter panel being positioned within an area defined by the aforesaid flange, and said free portion being positioned between said recess and said latter panel, the said connecting portion having been rotated inwardly about the panel hinge from its original position in the plane of the panel to its operating position in juxtaposition to said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,855 Fuller .d Nov. 22, 1932 2,286,647 Roberts June 16, 1942 2,614,737 Parker Oct. 21, 1952 

